Taking Advantage of the Fire Red Title Screen
Document written by thethethethe

Okay, some may have seen the title screen I created for my hack that may never be continued. Some people may have seen this already it's been at PHO's main site for quite a while, but I only just thought I'd post it here.

So what's needed:
VBA
Unlz.Gba
Paint
A Tile Map Editor

There is some assumed knowledge here, like knowing how to use tools, knowing about the palette options in your tilemap editor, and how to palette edit anything.

Now before I start, let me say, you almost definately will not get this right on your first go. You'll make mistakes, I recommend backing up as soon as you get even just one part to work.
We'll begin with ripping the needed files from the rom with unlz.gba. I'll give an approximate Unlz Number for these files but remember that they do differ.
When taking them from the rom, make sure the images are saved as a .gif.
141 - Flames
2009 - Pokemon Logo
2010 - Pokemon Logo Tilemap
2011 - Charizard
2012 - Charizard Tilemap
2013 - 'Press Start'/'Gamefreak'
2014 - 'Press Start'/'Gamefreak' Tilemap

I did add the flames, although I'm just going to remove them with my example title screen.

We will start by changing the Pokemon.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/thethethethe_photo/Charizard.png
I'm going to change it to Rayquaza. So I'll have to find an image. I'll be using the Giant Rayquaza shown at the Sootopolis event in Pokemon Emerald.
This one.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/thethethethe_photo/untitled-2.png
But first I'll need to index it and make sure all the tiles will fit into the Cyclone writing style.
So I'll end up with this.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/thethethethe_photo/Pokemonimage.png

Then we'll need to redo our tilemap to make it look the way we need it to go from this:
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/thethethethe_photo/image1.png
to this:
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/thethethethe_photo/image2.png
You'll see I've added a tail to the image, I took the tail from the Rayquaza in Pokemon Pinball.
Now we insert those files into the rom, and palette edit it. The file will be too big, you will need to repoint it to new space.
You can test it to see if it worked out, but I'm too lazy and I'm just going to show the final product.

All that's left is the Pokemon logo.
I'm not even going to change the image here.
Here's the tilemap I made.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/thethethethe_photo/image4.png
All I did is remove the 'Fire Red' text, as I added the 'Legend of Dragons' text in my gamefreak image.

All that's left, is for me to remove the flames, here you have to choices, either palette edit them to the colour of the background or just simply overwriting the image with a blank image.

Now that that is done, here's my finished screen fully palette edited and changed.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/thethethethe_photo/LoD_01-1.png
Tutorial written by thethethethe.
Do not claim as your own.
All images and resources may be used, although give credit to thethethethe
Don't ask for palette offsets. Find them yourself because I'll ignore those posts.

1993ted

November 8th, 2008, 2:35 AM

Nice tut verry nice this is whan of the best tuts for titlescreen editing

sorry for bad inglish i am dutch.

Ninja Caterpie

November 8th, 2008, 3:24 AM

Great, this is pretty awesome, thethethethe! The Tips and Tricks dshayabusa put into the RHN were a little confusing split up, and this helps a lot. Good job!

tImE

November 8th, 2008, 3:48 AM

Great tutorial as always, TheTheTheThe ;)

This tutorial was essential for me, making my titlescreen.
So thanks~ ^^
(I found the tut on PHO since it was posted there a while back)

Keep doing this great tutorials, Thex4.
You're great at writing easy-to-understand and good-outcome
tutorials.

At least I think so!

//44tim44

X-aveon

November 8th, 2008, 7:04 AM

nice tutorial!, even though it's been on pho for awhile.

liuyanghejerry

November 8th, 2008, 8:34 PM

Great job~!My firend need it badly!!Hope more tut like this~

Dratii

November 8th, 2008, 8:56 PM

Great tutorial Thethethethe I will use this to make a title screen for my hack (when I have time)

Nytkoi

November 9th, 2008, 7:45 AM

Very cool but I have an error with my Cyclone. it says the file FM20.DLL is not found, so the exe file can't run. =[ If I fix it ever, though, Ill be using this tut! Great job!

derv1205

November 9th, 2008, 9:23 AM

Great tutorial thex4 ^^ Thanks a lot dude, it's very useful ;)
Very cool but I have an error with my Cyclone. it says the file FM20.DLL is not found, so the exe file can't run. =[ If I fix it ever, though, Ill be using this tut! Great job!
Well, just put in google "FM20.DLL" and download that file and paste it in the folder where
you have Cyclone.
If it doesn's work, you can use other TileMap editors, like PTC TileMap ^^

torferno lvl-X

November 9th, 2008, 10:14 AM

Where are the pallette offsets please.
Nice tut though.

Edit: I've tried everything I can think of but I can't change the pallete, someone pls help!

Windstream

November 9th, 2008, 12:12 PM

Great tutoriel! Thank you, it will help me a lot!

torferno lvl-X

November 10th, 2008, 8:17 AM

Yeah good tut. thanks a lot

Chibi Robo

November 10th, 2008, 8:19 AM

Well this really useful for all those fire red hackers out there great tut!

Blackpanfa

November 10th, 2008, 12:26 PM

Thanks. Diven Trough's tutorials were kinda confusing for me...

Liquid Shadow

November 10th, 2008, 4:07 PM

Ugh.. I'm stuck... I can't seem to find Celebi's image offset in Unlz_GBA. I'm trying to make Celebi replace Charizard in FR. The reason I'm trying to find it in Unlz is to make the palette editing part so much easier. Anyone know what it is?

Bibliophibian

November 10th, 2008, 4:53 PM

nifty tutorial. it helped me out a lot when i was fiddling with the titlescreen. :3

Ugh.. I'm stuck... I can't seem to find Celebi's image offset in Unlz_GBA.
for me it was at 1168, i believe.

Nytkoi

November 11th, 2008, 1:58 PM

ughhh.... i need some help with the inserting and pallete editting. This is as far as I got:
http://i38.tinypic.com/23ochz.png
though i might change it to a diff. poke.

Liquid Shadow

November 11th, 2008, 4:15 PM

Thanks.. I just want to know the index of the palettes for the flames? I don't want to edit them I just want to make the flames colored green... Except I can't seem to find the palette for em XD. By index I mean by in APE when u load the palette of the title screen and you choose an index (IE Charizard's palette is index 14).

Oh and Nytoki I suck at and hate palette editing too so sorry can't help you on that.

cooley

November 13th, 2008, 2:04 PM

Where are the pallette offsets please.
Nice tut though.

Edit: I've tried everything I can think of but I can't change the pallete, someone pls help!
Maybe you should try...Wait for it.....A Palette editor! Really?

Liquid Shadow

November 13th, 2008, 7:08 PM

What is the UnlZ number for the background? (The blue background). Because I want to change that into a picture.

torferno lvl-X

November 14th, 2008, 10:00 AM

Maybe you should try...Wait for it.....A Palette editor! Really?

Oh yeah, I said I couldn't find the offsets so unless you read my post don't say anything, I'm not that thick, sheesh.
P.S. I know APE has the offsets stored in it but the offsets there don't work om my game.

Where are the pallette offsets please.
Nice tut though.

Edit: I've tried everything I can think of but I can't change the pallete, someone pls help!

Hey look I even highlited that part of the quote for you, so you don't miss half of the message again.

FYI: I've been hacking for a year, so don't be so sarcastic please!

Cyclonek5

November 14th, 2008, 4:17 PM

The file will be too big, you will need to repoint it to new space.

I cannot get past this part....how do I repoint it to a new space?

FLOOTENKERP

November 14th, 2008, 5:48 PM

First of all thethethe I would like to say that your tutorial was very good but I got lost when you said that you needed to index the picture and after that i didnt understand. If you could help this is the help i REALLY need. help would be awesome. well here goes.

what do i do with unlz? I went to 2011 and found a messed up Charizard. what do i do with it? do i have to save it as a certain file? .PNG or .GIF? when i save it do i just erase it and then put my picture in? In cyclone do i load it as a tileset or tilemap?

I need more help but i dont want to bother you. I'll start of with editing the pokemon in the title screen and then the rest. Oh and if your wondering whats the pokemon gonna be its gonna be flootenkerp. just thought i should tell you since im asking for help.

I sent you a private message but i just made this account today so i dont know a thing so i was worried it didnt get sent

thethethethe

November 14th, 2008, 9:09 PM

Oh yeah, I said I couldn't find the offsets so unless you read my post don't say anything, I'm not that thick, sheesh.
P.S. I know APE has the offsets stored in it but the offsets there don't work om my game.

Hey look I even highlited that part of the quote for you, so you don't miss half of the message again.

FYI: I've been hacking for a year, so don't be so sarcastic please!
Well don't take this the wrong way or anything, but if you've been hacking for a year, and you still don't have the basic skill of finding a palette without APE, you must have wasted a hell of a lot of time.
I'm not giving out palette offsets. You can either read through other tutorials explaining the simple skill of finding palettes or give up, your choice I guess.
I cannot get past this part....how do I repoint it to a new space?
Go find a tutorial on using unlz.gba. I'm sure there's already way too many of them either here or on youtube. I usually leave things out of tutorials I write, like how to use tools or things that have been done to death by some new hacker who thinks everyone would like another scripting tutorial. I don't need to tell you every single little step, you should be able to figure out how to do the little things in between.
Thanks.. I just want to know the index of the palettes for the flames? I don't want to edit them I just want to make the flames colored green... Except I can't seem to find the palette for em XD. By index I mean by in APE when u load the palette of the title screen and you choose an index (IE Charizard's palette is index 14).

Oh and Nytoki I suck at and hate palette editing too so sorry can't help you on that.
See above.

Bananapeelz

November 15th, 2008, 5:13 PM

ya i have the same problem with flootenkerp.
sorry i basically just started scripiting and hacking and all that, and i dont really understand what u meant by indexing it. But i know u need to cuz i inserted a picture in place of the charzard, and it said i needed to index it.

this is were u confuse me:But first I'll need to index it and make sure all the tiles will fit into the Cyclone writing style.
So I'll end up with this. Thanks for the help

Edit: Alright i made it neat manually, i took the picture on the left and just put it on the right. I uploaded the tilemap onto unlz, to take place of charizards tilemap, but when i just try and import the picture to take place of charizard, does that have to be all messed up looking like how the charizard looks whenever u go to 2011, because it says it needs to be indexed.

Edit: I really dont understand this, ive been trying everything, i upload the tile map to take place of charizards, but whenever i load the game its just lines everywhere. But thats when i uploaded the tilemap when it was messed up. But I fixed it again to make it look normal, and whenever i put it in unlz it still does the same thing. And i dont understand what we are supposed to do on the actual charizard picture, do we just insert a png file or do we load RAW? Im reeaallllyyy confused right now and have been trying to figure this out for like 2 hours now.

Liquid Shadow

November 16th, 2008, 8:47 PM

Ok.. I have a problem.. =(
I made my image, and yes I made it a 16 color palette and it turned out quite nice. Then, I imported that image over the gamefreak one, but since it was too big to be written I changed the Image Offset to 845000. It worked, and the image was written to the game (firered). Then, after like an hour of trying to make the tilemap I finished it. I used NTME, not cyclone because it's messed up for me. anyway, I saved it as RAW and when I import it into UnlZ there is no image there. It's just blank. If I try to write it to the game anyway, nothing happens and the tilemap of gamefreak gets replaced with a blank one. I've been trying to make it work all day but to no avail. Anyone knows what's up with it?

Oh and I managed to change the Pokemon to celebi so that worked fine I duno what's up with this image.

Oh and bananapeelz... You replace the charizard picture with another picture of a pokemon you want to insert. After that you insert the tilemap.
Search some tuts on UnlZ or something.

Bananapeelz

November 17th, 2008, 8:05 PM

ya thats what i did, and i did it all right but whenever i opened up my game, charizard just wasnt there

Darthatron

November 17th, 2008, 8:16 PM

Ok.. I have a problem.. =(
I made my image, and yes I made it a 16 color palette and it turned out quite nice. Then, I imported that image over the gamefreak one, but since it was too big to be written I changed the Image Offset to 845000. It worked, and the image was written to the game (firered). Then, after like an hour of trying to make the tilemap I finished it. I used NTME, not cyclone because it's messed up for me. anyway, I saved it as RAW and when I import it into UnlZ there is no image there. It's just blank. If I try to write it to the game anyway, nothing happens and the tilemap of gamefreak gets replaced with a blank one. I've been trying to make it work all day but to no avail. Anyone knows what's up with it?

Oh and I managed to change the Pokemon to celebi so that worked fine I duno what's up with this image.

Oh and bananapeelz... You replace the charizard picture with another picture of a pokemon you want to insert. After that you insert the tilemap.
Search some tuts on UnlZ or something.

Did you fix the pointers? >_>

Liquid Shadow

November 17th, 2008, 8:50 PM

You mean by checking the box "automatically fix pointers" then yes. If not, then no. But that's not my problem.. or I don't think so.. Because if I just import my tilemap into UnlZ, the current tilemap gets replaced by a blank image. Meaning, UnlZ won't read the tilemap or something... If I write it to the game anyway, and I check UnlZ again for the gamefreak tilemap, it's just a blank tilemap. Any help?

EDIT: OK...It's either my UnlZ GBA or my ROM, because if I make a RAW DUMP of the original Gamefreak tilemap and then try to re-import that same tilemap into UnlZ, the tilemap is replaced by a blank image.

EDIT 2: Problem solved... was my game. XD

torferno lvl-X

November 19th, 2008, 9:01 AM

Well don't take this the wrong way or anything, but if you've been hacking for a year, and you still don't have the basic skill of finding a palette without APE, you must have wasted a hell of a lot of time.

Yeah sorry you're right, I have been hacking for a year but I've been on and off it and I've been focused on scripting and stuff mainly. Sorry, its just I don't like sarcasm that much,(nervous hypocrtitical sideways glance). And the offsets VBA gives me don't work. So......

Aljam

November 27th, 2008, 12:38 PM

after i put in the tileset and picture, i get to the part where u have to change the pallete. when i load my pallete off set some of the colours have a pink box and the colours are black. Can ya Help

loitraitim

November 30th, 2008, 1:30 AM

after i put in the tileset and picture, i get to the part where u have to change the pallete. when i load my pallete off set some of the colours have a pink box and the colours are black. Can ya Help

You can see it...
You open VBA, open ROM, play to Tittle screen!
After, you click Tools --> Pallete Viewer, Save file pal!

Open VBA, Search file pal! You can see it :D

Goodluck ^^

cyberzero

December 4th, 2008, 8:02 PM

everythings been working great for me, but when i go to file > load RAW, it says "RAW too big"
I did everything in this, I don't know what I did wrong
any help please?

wingzro17

December 7th, 2008, 12:45 PM

I have a really bad problem. When I load and write the RAW to the ROM, the Pokemon at the intro takes the palette of the "Pokemon logo".

no matter what i seem to the pallet wont change i get a yellow picture of the item im trying to insert. i have tried al of the cyclone pallete options and they're not changing a thing

Semblance

December 21st, 2008, 5:34 PM

Um, what do you mane "indexing"? That's the only part of the tutorial that confuses me, good job!

Bibliophibian

December 22nd, 2008, 4:21 AM

Um, what do you mane "indexing"? That's the only part of the tutorial that confuses me, good job!
Indexing is when you decrease the color depth to 16 colors. You can do it using Irfanview.
If you need more help, do a forum search for "Indexing Spites" and there should be some tutorials.

Aljam

January 26th, 2009, 7:48 AM

here is a problem that i have at the bottom the letters flash like the press start and i dont know what i did wrong.